A woman from Cobble Hill has been charged with fraud for allegedly stealing close to $441,178 over a two-year period from clients of a financial investment company.

Barbara Giroux, 48, had her first court appearance in Victoria Wednesday.

A spokesperson with the Victoria Police Dept., Mike Tucker, said Giroux stole money from client accounts at the now-defunct Michaels Wealth Management.

“She worked in the office as a clerk and she… had access to their accounts and was able to transfer it to her own personal accounts.”

Tucker says two victims were seniors.

“I mean, it’s a real shame for the elderly people. When you’re retired, the last thing you want to worry about is your investments and especially having them stolen,” he said. “So real tragedy for them.”

Tucker said the police checked Giroux's accounts and money that was transferred is gone. Giroux is charged with fraud over $5,000 and Tucker said it's possible there could be a civil lawsuit filed again her.

Giroux is due back in court in Victoria on Oct. 2. 

Similar Stories

• See the hilarious trailer for the show that is about to change the TV industry forever
• Is the Brenda/Dawn friendship toast? Brenda has the answer in our candid interview
• 5 hot trends that can increase your home's Wow Factor
• Never Enough Time!
• Man ‘lucky to be alive’ after Washington bridge collapse

Most Viewed Stories

• Morgan Freeman falls asleep on live TV!
• Morgan Freeman falls asleep on live TV!
• Literally riding my butt off
• Former MLA dead in float plane crash
• Mariah Carey's drops S-bomb, has dress pop open during GMA performance